Latest news with #Phumtham
Muscat Daily
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Muscat Daily
Lasting peace eludes Thailand's deep south
Bangkok, Thailand – Since January 2004, Thailand's deep south has seen ongoing conflict between Thai military forces and separatist groups seeking greater autonomy. The violence is largely confined to the country's three southernmost provinces, Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala – home to a Muslim Malay majority in the predominantly Buddhist nation. The region, located along the Thai-Malaysia border, has seen over 23,000 violent incidents, leading to more than 7,000 deaths, according to Deep South Watch, a local think tank. The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the dominant separatist group, has been implicated in attacks targeting civilians, including Buddhist monks and schoolteachers, according to Human Rights Watch. Deadly attacks escalate conflict Between January and early May this year, 38 violent incidents were recorded – almost as many as in all of 2024. Don Pathan, a Thailand-based security analyst, points to two attacks as key escalations. The first came after Thailand's National Security Council and the BRN failed to reach a Ramadan ceasefire agreement in March, after which Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai insisted that all violence must stop before talks resume. The BRN responded with a March 9 attack on Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok District Office, wounding 12 people and killing two volunteer defence officers. The second major incident came after the April 18 killing of senior BRN member Abdulroning Lateh, which saw the insurgents escalate beyond the rules of engagement in conflict by targeting civilians. A brutal attack came on May 2 when a gunman shot dead at least three people in a residential area of Narathiwat province, including a 9-year-old girl, a 75-year-old man and a 76-year-old blind woman. In response, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra deployed more troops to the region to bolster security. Last week, Deputy PM Phumtham Wechayachai said that the Thai government is willing to engage in peace talks. Thaksin vows to achieve peace Tita Sanglee, an associate fellow at Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, believes both politicians' efforts are symbolic rather than practical. 'Paetongtarn and Phumtham's peace efforts are more symbolic than substantive. We all know that the situation on the ground is not really conducive to peace,' she told DW. 'Phumtham's stance, at least early on, was quite tough. He was basically saying, 'we won't engage in talks unless the BRN proves its legitimacy by ending violence on the ground'.' 'I see this largely as a way to shift scrutiny onto the insurgents – and ultimately to shield the young and inexperienced prime minister,' Sanglee said, suggesting that controlling the narrative seems to be the government's priority. Thaksin Shinawatra, who was Thai PM when the insurgency renewed in 2004, has also become involved to help find a solution. He visited the region in February and said that he expects to see a complete end to the unrest by next year. Malaysia's role in finding peace Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai party, which is strongly influenced by Thaksin, has since faced pressure to act. Tita said the former PM's pledge has pushed the government to respond. 'In light of Thaksin's public pledge to end the Deep South's unrest by next year, there's a real need for the Pheu Thai government to demonstrate that it is taking the issue seriously and is actually doing something,' she told DW. Thaksin is an informal adviser to ASEAN chair Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the prime minister of Malaysia, which has been urged to take a greater role in peace efforts. The last official meeting about a peace solution between Thai government representatives and the BRN was in June 2024. But in a post on social media this month, Paetongtarn said Malaysia is now crucial for any upcoming rounds of peace talks. Anthony Davis, a Bangkok-based security analyst, said Malaysia could have more of an impact on reducing the hostilities. 'The Malaysians could arguably be doing more in terms of reining in BRN. Some elements almost certainly knew in advance that a Ramadan offensive was coming and apparently did nothing to head it off,' he told DW, adding that Malaysia's role as 'facilitator' limits its actions. 'There are also questions as to how far PM Anwar is focused on the Patani issue and whether he could afford the domestic political blowback of hard-knuckle moves against BRN leadership inside Malaysia when ultimately this is a Thai problem,' he added. Don Pathan believes Thailand should look at the BRN proposal, rather than relying on Malaysia. 'Malaysia is not exactly an honest broker; Malaysia is a stakeholder. The country shares the same border and the same religious and cultural similarities as the Malays of Patani,' he told DW. Pathan suggested that the Thai government should take seriously the BRN's counterproposal made in February, which included 'setting up a negotiating team, releasing political prisoners, and allowing international observers to monitor a ceasefire'. 'The BRN has said it is willing to negotiate under the Thai Constitution. BRN and the Patani Malays are willing to be part of the Thai state. But it has to be on their terms,' he added. DW
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Will Thailand's deep south ever see lasting peace?
Will Thailand's deep south ever see lasting peace? Since January 2004, Thailand's deep south has seen ongoing conflict between Thai military forces and separatist groups seeking greater autonomy. The violence is largely confined to the country's three southernmost provinces, Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala - home to a Muslim Malay majority in the predominantly Buddhist nation. The region, located along the Thai-Malaysia border, has seen over 23,000 violent incidents, leading to more than 7,000 deaths, according to Deep South Watch, a local think tank. The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the dominant separatist group, has been implicated in attacks targeting civilians, including Buddhist monks and schoolteachers, according to Human Rights Watch. Deadly attacks escalate conflict Between January and early May this year, 38 violent incidents were recorded, almost as many as in all of 2024. Don Pathan, a Thailand-based security analyst, points to two attacks as key escalations. The first came after Thailand's National Security Council and the BRN failed to reach a Ramadan ceasefire agreement in March, after which Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai insisted that all violence must stop before talks resume. The BRN responded with a March 9 attack on Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok District Office, wounding 12 people and killing two volunteer defense officers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pierce Brosnan's Wife Lost 120 Pounds - This Is Her Now Undo The second major incident came after the April 18 killing of senior BRN member Abdulroning Lateh, which saw the insurgents escalate beyond the rules of engagement in conflict by targeting civilians. A brutal attack came on May 2 when a gunman shot dead at least three people in a residential area of Narathiwat province, including a 9-year-old girl, a 75-year-old man and a 76-year-old blind woman. In response, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra deployed more troops to the region to bolster security. Last week, Deputy PM Phumtham Wechayachai said that the Thai government is willing to engage in peace talks. Thaksin vows to achieve peace Tita Sanglee, an associate fellow at Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, believes both politicians' efforts are symbolic rather than practical. "Paetongtarn and Phumtham's peace efforts are more symbolic than substantive. We all know that the situation on the ground is not really conducive to peace," she told DW. "Phumtham's stance, at least early on, was quite tough. He was basically saying, 'we won't engage in talks unless the BRN proves its legitimacy by ending violence on the ground'." "I see this largely as a way to shift scrutiny onto the insurgents and ultimately to shield the young and inexperienced prime minister," Sanglee said, suggesting that controlling the narrative seems to be the government's priority. Thaksin Shinawatra, who was Thai PM when the insurgency renewed in 2004, has also become involved to help find a solution. He visited the region in February and said that he expects to see a complete end to the unrest by next year. What is Malaysia's role in finding peace? Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai party, which is strongly influenced by Thaksin, has since faced pressure to act. Tita said the former PM's pledge has pushed the government to respond. "In light of Thaksin's public pledge to end the Deep South's unrest by next year, there's a real need for the Pheu Thai government to demonstrate that it is taking the issue seriously and is actually doing something," she told DW. Thaksin is an informal adviser to ASEAN chair Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the prime minister of Malaysia, which has been urged to take a greater role in peace efforts. The last official meeting about a peace solution between Thai government representatives and the BRN was in June 2024. But in a post on social media this month, Paetongtarn said Malaysia is now crucial for any upcoming rounds of peace talks. Anthony Davis, a Bangkok-based security analyst, said Malaysia could have more of an impact on reducing the hostilities. "The Malaysians could arguably be doing more in terms of reining in BRN. Some elements almost certainly knew in advance that a Ramadan offensive was coming and apparently did nothing to head it off," he told DW, adding that Malaysia's role as "facilitator" limits its actions. "There are also questions as to how far PM Anwar is focused on the Patani issue and whether he could afford the domestic political blowback of hard-knuckle moves against BRN leadership inside Malaysia when ultimately this is a Thai problem," he added. Don Pathan believes Thailand should look at the BRN proposal, rather than relying on Malaysia. "Malaysia is not exactly an honest broker; Malaysia is a stakeholder. The country shares the same border and the same religious and cultural similarities as the Malays of Patani," he told DW. Pathan suggested that the Thai government should take seriously the BRN's counterproposal made in February, which included "setting up a negotiating team, releasing political prisoners, and allowing international observers to monitor a ceasefire." "The BRN has said it is willing to negotiate under the Thai Constitution. BRN and the Patani Malays are willing to be part of the Thai state. But it has to be on their terms," he added.
DW
20-05-2025
- Politics
- DW
Will Thailand's deep south ever see lasting peace? – DW – 05/20/2025
Conflict in Thailand's deep south has persisted for more than two decades. With violence surging again this year, can lasting peace finally be achieved? Since January 2004, Thailand's deep south has seen ongoing conflict between separatist groups seeking greater autonomy and Thai military forces. The violence is largely confined to the country's three southernmost provinces, Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala — home to a Muslim Malay majority in the predominantly Buddhist nation. The region is located along the Thai-Malaysia border, and has seen over 23,000 violent incidents, leading to more than 7,000 deaths, according to Deep South Watch, a local think tank. The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the dominant separatist group, has been implicated in attacks targeting civilians, including Buddhist monks and schoolteachers, according to Human Rights Watch. Deadly attacks escalate conflict Between January and early May this year, 38 violent incidents were recorded — almost as many as in all of 2024. Don Pathan, a Thailand-based security analyst, points to two attacks as key escalations. Why is Thailand expelling Uyghur asylum seekers to China now To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The first came after Thailand's National Security Council and the BRN failed to reach a Ramadan ceasefire agreement in March, after which Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai insisted that all violence must stop before talks resume. The BRN responded with a March 9 attack on Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok District Office, wounding 12 people and killing two volunteer defense officers. The second major incident came after the April 18 killing of senior BRN member Abdulroning Lateh, which saw the insurgents escalate beyond the rules of engagement in conflict by targeting civilians. A brutal attack came on May 2 when a gunman shot dead at least three people in a residential area of Narathiwat province, including a 9-year-old girl, a 75-year-old man and a 76-year-old blind woman. In response, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra deployed more troops to the region to bolster security. And last week, Deputy PM Phumtham Wechayachai said that the Thai government is willing to engage in peace talks. Thaksin vows to achieve peace Tita Sanglee, an associate fellow at Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, believes both politicians' efforts are symbolic rather than practical. "Paetongtarn and Phumtham's peace efforts are more symbolic than substantive. We all know that the situation on the ground is not really conducive to peace," she told DW. "Phumtham's stance, at least early on, was quite tough. He was basically saying, 'we won't engage in talks unless the BRN proves its legitimacy by ending violence on the ground.'" "I see this largely as a way to shift scrutiny onto the insurgents — and ultimately to shield the young and inexperienced prime minister," Sanglee said, suggesting that controlling the narrative seems to be the government's priority. Thaksin Shinawatra, who was Thai PM when the insurgency renewed in 2004, has also become involved to help find a solution. He visited the region in February and said that he expects to see a complete end to the unrest by next year. What is Malaysia's role in finding peace? Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai party, which is strongly influenced by Thaksin, has since faced pressure to act. Tita said the former PM's pledge has pushed the government to respond. "In light of Thaksin's public pledge to end the Deep South's unrest by next year, there's a real need for the Pheu Thai government to demonstrate that it is taking the issue seriously and is actually doing something," she told DW. Thaksin is an informal adviser to ASEAN chair Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the prime minister of Malaysia, which has been urged to take a greater role in peace efforts. Thaksin Shinawatra remains a central figure in Thai politics, exerting influence despite his ousting from power 19 years ago Image: Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP/Getty Images The last official meeting about a peace solution between Thai government representatives and the BRN was in June 2024. But in a post on social media this month, Paetongtarn said Malaysia is now crucial for any upcoming rounds of peace talks. Anthony Davis, a Bangkok-based security analyst, said Malaysia could have more of an impact on reducing the hostilities. "The Malaysians could arguably be doing more in terms of reining in BRN. Some elements almost certainly knew in advance that a Ramadan offensive was coming and apparently did nothing to head it off," he told DW, adding that Malaysia's role as "facilitator" limits its actions. "There are also questions as to how far PM Anwar is focused on the Patani issue and whether he could afford the domestic political blowback of hard-knuckle moves against BRN leadership inside Malaysia when ultimately this is a Thai problem," he added. Don Pathan believes Thailand should look at the BRN proposal, rather than relying on Malaysia. "Malaysia is not exactly an honest broker; Malaysia is a stakeholder. The country shares the same border and the same religious and cultural similarities as the Malays of Patani," he told DW. Pathan suggested that the Thai government should take seriously the BRN's counterproposal made in February, which included "setting up a negotiating team, releasing political prisoners, and allowing international observers to monitor a ceasefire." "The BRN has said it is willing to negotiate under the Thai Constitution. BRN and the Patani Malays are willing to be part of the Thai state. But it has to be on their terms," he added. New Thai prime minister third in family to hold office To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Keith Walker
The Star
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Thai minister seeks genuine Barisan Revolusi Nasional leader for peace talks in south
BANGKOK: Phumtham urges Malaysia to ensure the real Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) leader joins peace talks after violence continues, including the killing of a Buddhist novice. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai (pic) reiterated on Monday (April 28) that he would ask the Malaysian moderator to ensure BRN sends a genuine leader to participate in peace dialogue with Thailand. Phumtham emphasised that the Thai government wished to engage in talks with a BRN leader who truly holds authority over the insurgent groups, in order to achieve lasting peace between the government and insurgents. Phumtham noted that it had been proven the BRN representative who participated in previous peace talks did not have real control over insurgent groups. "So, I don't know how to continue talks with the group," Phumtham said. At the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Phumtham challenged the BRN delegation to prove its authority by preventing violent attacks during the month. However, violent incidents continued. In the latest and most shocking incident, insurgents killed a Buddhist novice during morning alms-giving, an attack that deeply angered the Buddhist community. Phumtham said he was currently discussing the issue with the Malaysian moderator, appointed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, to facilitate the peace talks. He added that he had informed the moderator that Thailand wished to negotiate only with the real leadership of the BRN. If violence continued, Thailand would discuss further with Malaysia on how it could assist in addressing the situation. Following the latest attack, Phumtham ordered the southern army commander and the Southern Border Provinces Police Bureau to intensify security operations and implement proactive measures to prevent further violence. Phumtham said he had been assured by the commander of the Fourth Army Area and the chief of Provincial Police Bureau 9 that meetings with government agencies in the deep South had been held and they were confident proactive security measures could be successfully implemented. Phumtham also highlighted that police and army units were cooperating closely and effectively to maintain security without internal conflict. He added that the recent surge in violence prompted the Cabinet to reconsider its resolution to lift martial law in the southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and four districts of Songkhla. - The Nation/ANN
USA Today
28-03-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
15 heartbreaking images show the destruction after earthquake in Thailand, Myanmar
15 heartbreaking images show the destruction after earthquake in Thailand, Myanmar Show Caption Hide Caption Deadly earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand A 7.7 earthquake shook Southeast Asia, killing over 140. The epicenter was near Mandalay, Myanmar. A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Southeast Asia around lunchtime Friday, killing at least three people in Thailand and bringing down multiple buildings in Myanmar, prompting the military-run government to declare a state of emergency in multiple regions. The powerful earthquake, which had its epicenter in central Myanmar about 13 miles from Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, struck around 12:50 p.m. local time, the New York Times reported. It was followed by several tremors, including a 6.4 magnitude aftershock which occurred just 11 minutes later. In Bangkok, Thailand, almost 900 miles from the earthquake's epicenter, a high rise building collapsed, killing at least three people and touching off a search for 81 workers believed to be trapped in the rubble, Defense Minister Phumtham told reporters. Video showed the skyscraper crash to the ground as crowds nearby ran from billowing plumes of smoke. The Thailand National Institute for Emergency Medicine said 320 workers were at the site when the building collapsed. The earthquake brought down buildings across Myanmar, including a section of a mosque in the town of Tuangoo, killing at least three people, Reuters reported. Local media reported at least two people died and about 20 were injured in the collapse of a hotel in the town of Aung Ban. Two bridges, including a railway bridge and a road bridge, were also destroyed. Myanmar's military-run government declared a state of emergency in six regions. "The state will make inquiries on the situation quickly and conduct rescue operations along with providing humanitarian aid," the junta said on the Telegram messaging app. Earthquake: Buildings collapse as powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar and Thailand; many feared dead See photos of earthquake aftermath in Myanmar, Thailand Editor's note: Graphic visuals. Viewer discretion advised. Contributing: Christopher Cann, USA TODAY / Reuters Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
